Friday, November 30, 2012

Christmas Pudding Chocolate Cake Pops and A Cake Pop Maker Giveaway

Christmas Pudding Chocolate Cake Pops

Hello Beach Dwellers

Today we are talking cake pops. Let me tell you there's an easy way to make cake pops and a hard way. And you guessed it, I found out the hard way of course. You may remember these ones I made for my the Beach House Brat's birthday party. There were only 6 little girls present. I was going to make two each, but I struggled to make it to 7. Making the pops was fine, but I struggled to keep them on the stick and had problems with the chocolate running off because it was too hot. They looked OK and were very yummy, but I had to rest them on their bottoms, because gravity was against me and they kept sliding down the stick. The ribbons saved the day, making them look very pretty, but the effort to wow factor ratio was high and I did wonder whether I'd ever bother again.

Roll forward several months and it was kind of like having a baby. I forgot everything and jumped right back in.

I received this cake pop maker from Kambrook, and lets just say, you may be seeing a whole lot more cake pops on this here old blog. This machine and the hot tips in the Kambrook instruction booklet, like 'adding a little vegetable oil to the chocolate melts', really helped to make the cake pop experience much more pleasant indeed.

The Kambrook booklet also provides lots of cake pop recipes which are simple. The pops take about 5-6 minutes to cook. The cake pop sticks provided, (24) are washable and reusable. The pops turn out perfectly and any residue easily breaks off. The pan is non stick and just needs a thorough wipe over between batches, so the next batch does not stick.

The pops are best covered in chocolate melts, with a good teaspoon of vegetable oil mixed in. This will make the chocolate easier to work with as it cools. Before you start, make sure the chocolate is not too hot, other wise it will just slide off the pop.

Prick your cake once it has completely cooled on a wire rack, with the sticks provided.

Hold the pop over the chocolate bowl and use a spoon to drizzle it with chocolate, gently shake off any excess chocolate and place in the stand to dry.

Dipping the balls into the bowl is a no no, as it may lead to them falling into the chocolate and a God awful mess.

Whilst they are drying, make your plum pudding decorations. I used red smarties and jelly babies roughly cut to the shape of a leaf.

Allow the first coat of chocolate to completely dry. Meanwhile fill a clip lock plastic bag with melted white chocolate (again the melts are the best). Squeeze the chocolate into one corner of the bag. Snip the tinniest corner from the bag and pipe a good dose of chocolate onto the top centre of your pop. It should run down the sides by itself. Place the lollies on top, which will assist in making the white chocolate run down the sides for effect as well.

Giveaway Terms and ConditionsThis competition is open to entrants living in Australia only.This competition is open from now until 7 December 2012 12pm Australian EST.The winner will be announced on this blog, Face Book and Twitter and I will contact you, as long as you have left a valid means. You have 5 days to respond, otherwise the prize will be redrawn.I was not paid to write this post, but I received a cake pop maker to review. Clearly I liked it.

ooh another giveaway..your cakes look great.thanks so much for the hello fresh prize!! it was so nice to have a box of fresh food delivered to my door & saved me shopping for a few days. :))i'll share on fbook.x

Arent I following you everywhere! Ahhhhh I've tried and was banned from making them by my BFF cause she wanted to put her head in the oven. This looks much easier and the tips are bloody essential if you ask me!!! Love your photography too xx

They look awesome! I've never liked the original cake pops (cake mixed with cream and rolled into balls) because they were just a bit too sweet for my liking. Glad Kambrook came up with a way to have cake on its own in the pops :) Need to get myself one of these!

I always I feel like I put on weight just reading your blog! It always makes me salivate, it's terrible for my diet! Anyway, I've been meaning to try making these things for a year now, but never got around to it because it looked too hard. But this machine looks like the cheat's solution. And I'm completely taken with those dear little Christmas puds. So cute. That's something the kids could eat on Chrissy Day without having to tackle the whole fruit cake thing. Great idea. So yes please put me in the running. I already like and follow you on all those things.

I lie, I wasn't following you on Pinterest, but that seems weird, I'm sure I follow people and it drops off because I have had to refollow quite a few people lately that I was following before. Anyway, I'm here.

I'm having a, "It's a Social Hop like Crazy" party. I'd love for you to hop on over, grab a button and link up your blog. http://mydailyphotojourney.blogspot.com/2012/11/social-hop-like-crazy-party.html

Hi there, now, of course I am wishing I had picked one up at the Bloggers Brunch.. but I had a terrible fear of cake pops. This is a very clear explanation of how to do them. Count me into the comp. Follow on Facebook.

I have had the same trouble making cake pops with the balls falling off the sticks, chocolate and sprinkles dripping on the sticks and table. Kambrook seems to have clicked onto this new trend and would so love to win this and use it because I won't be attempting to make cake pops again unless I use Kambrook!!!

I love, love, LOVE these cake pops. How do you like the cake pop maker? Is it just cake inside the make you use and no frosting too? If so, do not not break up when dipping? And I love the fact that you used a Smartie on top too. I'm in the UK and we have Smarties here too. It was kinda hard to explain that Smarties are like M&M's but flatter and more crunchier than M&M's when someone asked what Smarties were, hehe.

If you don't mind, I'd love if you would stop by and share these and any other dessert creations on Sugar & Slice Sunday weekly link party.

MMM, I love that you made plum puddings - I would love to add these to my ever expanding list of christmas treats. According to our lunch menu, we are just eating desserts, LOL My guests are sure to be impressed

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BEACH HOUSE AND RECEIVE UPDATES VIA NEWSLETTER

TRAVEL STORIES AND RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Easy Christmas Ideas

EASTER RECIPE AND TABLESCAPE IDEAS

About Me

Hi I'm Carolyn coming to you from a sweet little beach house on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Desire Empire is my passion and I love all things vintage, interiors, food, travel and family. Come and join me on my journey in paradise.